Pietersen scored 8181 runs in 104 Tests and the destructive batsman was named Player of the Series after leading England to the World Twenty20 title in 2010.

But his international career came to an end in 2014 after Pietersen was involved in a rift with his team-mates.

"Being a South African in an English dressing room is occasionally frowned upon but I felt incredibly accepted and I loved my career," Pietersen said.

"I didn't mind pressing buttons to try and achieve really good things and to get the best out of people I had to press buttons they didn't like.

"Unfortunately or fortunately that's my character. I strive to be the best I can possibly be and help others be the best they can be and sometimes I rubbed them up the wrong way, I said things they were uncomfortable with.

"It is what it is. I had a pretty cool time doing my job and it really is one of the greatest things calling yourself a professional sportsman."

Lots asking what I’m going to do next...I’m going to take the same passion & hard work into trying to save rhinos from extinction.

If we all help, it’ll be greater than any of our achievements in any walk of life!